Wang returned home from the Wang's house at the same time Luo Ju came back from Nanyuan, but he didn't see Xiū Gū.

  At dusk on the same day, Xie Rong's long-following attendant, Pang Yan, also entered the mansion.

  "Third Master will definitely arrive at the mansion before dawn tomorrow, so please don't worry, Madam and Third Lady."

  Pang Yan was the second son of Pang Fu. Xie Qigong loved Xie Rong, so he especially assigned Pang Fu's sons to serve him.

  Xie Qigong, Wang and Huang were overjoyed when they received the news. They immediately ordered the large kitchen to prepare food and wine for the next day. In Huang's room, preparations had already been made, sweeping the study clean inside and out, then bringing out Xie Rong's usual inkstone and brush.

  Xie Wan also had some expectations, Xie Rong was the strongest pillar of the Xie family and the most reliable future. Now that they were in the light and she was in the dark, being able to observe him at close range wasn't a bad thing either.

  So when Xie Qigong handed over the task, saying that everyone had to arrive early at the upper house the next day to welcome Xie Ronggui back to the mansion, she agreed without hesitation.

  Xie Wanqing got up early, wore a plain-colored satin long gown and trousers, and put on a same-colored jacket with a fur trim. After breakfast, she came to the front yard.

  Xie Lang was also ready, and he still didn't know what kind of devastating threat Xie Rong's future strength would bring to the two of them. In his eyes, Xie Rong was a role model for scholars, and his goal to strive forward. So he wore a brand new dark blue robe, with a white jade pendant hanging from his waist, his hair combed without a single strand out of place, making him look even more handsome and charming.

  Xie Wan looked at him for a while, then walked forward and took off the jade from his waist. She said to Yin Suo: "Give brother that eight-tenths new lake blue robe to change into, then hang an embroidered pouch containing half-used ink stick on his waist."

  Xie Lang was stunned, "Is this okay?"

  Xie Wan said: "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

  Xie Lang was speechless, but it wasn't a big deal either. Since his sister agreed, then so be it.

  They arrived at the upper house, and everyone in each room gathered together. The three younger generations of the Zhang family were all dressed up, with Xie Huai and Xie Tong both wearing a set of Hangzhou silk brocade robes, their heads adorned with green jade hairpins, and their waists equipped with jade pendants and floral-shaped ornaments, not missing a single item, looking like a perfect young master.

  Xie Qi wore a green dress, today she had newly combed her double hanging buns, wearing a pink small jade orchid made of silk, and on her ears were also a pair of crimson gold earrings. The pure golden color set off the color of her clothes, dazzling but somewhat gaudy.

  The three sisters and brother are relatively simple, Xie Wei is still wearing a daily shirt with a moon-white skirt, the color is also relatively plain. There is no hairpin on her head, only a sheep fat jade bangle on her wrist, and a piece of jade step on her skirt.

  Xie Yun was also wearing a light blue robe that was about 80-90% new and looked very ordinary.

  Xie Wan was sizing up the crowd, and Xie Wei was also secretly sizing them up. When she saw that Xie Cang was dressed in a low-key manner, Xie Wan also wore simple attire, and couldn't help but nod her head in approval.

  The whole house was divided into old talks, and then heard the servant sent out came back and said: "He's here! The third master has already entered the North City Gate!"

  Xie Qigong immediately stood up and said, "Go ask again!"

  At this time, the gatekeeper came to report: "The county's He Laoye, Zhao Laoye and Sun Laoye heard that Third Master has returned home for a family visit, they all came to pay their respects!"

  Xie Qigong had no choice but to lead Pang Fu out, while the women here heard the noise and took their children back to the inner courtyard.

  Just then, there was a commotion outside, and Madame Wang thought it was Xie Rong arriving at the mansion. She got up to go out, but the servant announced that it was actually Mr. Qian, Mr. Zhang, and Wang Yuanwai who had come to drink tea.

  After sitting and standing for a while, I saw that the time was approaching 4 o'clock. Suddenly, someone outside the door loudly announced: "Rong San Ye has returned to the mansion!"

  The people in the house all stood up together and said to each other: "This time it's right!" Then they came out of the inner gate.

  The guests were all having tea in the Yulan Hall, and when they heard that Xie Rong had arrived home, they naturally went out to greet him. After a while of socializing, they heard Peng Yan's voice coming from the corridor: "Third Master has come to pay his respects to the mistress." It was already more than half an hour later.

  Among the eager eyes, a tall and straight figure stepped across the threshold, with a slightly long stature, just like Xie Wan's impression. A lake-green brocade robe was draped on his thirty-year-old body, although it didn't show off wealth and nobility, but the material's elegant quality was fully displayed through its simplicity.

  He stepped into the doorway and stood still under the corridor, then raised his starry eyes under his long eyebrows to where the women were standing, and a smile gradually spread from the corners of his lips like spring water. His gentle and elegant demeanor was just like that New Year's Eve night when he quietly crouched on the ground watching Artie set off fireworks, and also like that time in the Li royal merchant's mansion in the capital, where he stood amidst a house full of noble scholars with an unrestrained smile.

  "Mother."

  "Sanlang!"

  Wang smiled and stretched out his hand.

  Xie Rong stepped steadily in front of her, lifted his robe and knelt down on the spot.

  We parted in March and didn't have to hold hands and look at each other with tears in our eyes.

  After he finished kowtowing, Wang's wife pulled him up and led him into the flower hall.

  Huang and his children received gifts from their relatives. He bowed slightly, with a warm feeling lingering in his eyes.

  Such a man, if not related to her by blood, Xie Wan was afraid that she would also have a crush on him. He had an unusual self-control, as if he could always control the overall situation, and yet made people completely unable to guess his thoughts.

  Xie Wan felt that if she didn't have the experience of her past thirty years, she might not have had the guts to contend with the Xie manor, which had such an heir.

  Xie Qigong quickly sent away the guests and came in, everyone sat down on both sides according to age.

  Wang asked about the situation in the capital, and Xie Rong answered one by one, with a perfect smile on his face all the time. It wasn't until he finished asking that he started letting the children come over to pay their respects.

  Xie Rong prepared a set of Four Treasures of the Study for his brothers, and for his sisters he prepared "Biographies of Exemplary Women" and "The Book of Songs".

  Xie Lang followed closely behind Xie Hua, who was dressed like a peacock, and paid his respects. Xie Rong's gaze fell on him for a moment, and he nodded slightly. Later, when Xie Tong came to pay his respects, he returned to normal. Although it didn't seem like much, with Xie Rong's composure, being able to show these subtle signs already meant something different.

  She remembered that in her past life, every time she saw Xie Rong, he was always so low-key and calm, like someone as confident and proud as him would not agree to use finery and decorations to conceal his own brilliance. So, under the current circumstances where the second house still needs to restrain its momentum and hide its intentions, how could Xie Zhuang let his brother go against his wishes?

  Lunch is eaten in the upstairs room.

  After dinner, they drank tea together, and Xie Rong bid farewell to his parents and returned to the third house.

  Xie Wan also returned to Yifengyuan with Xie Lang.

  Xie Lang couldn't help but praise Xie Rong's demeanor as soon as he entered the door: "In the past, I had never observed him at such a close distance and didn't think much of it. But now that I take a closer look, I see that Uncle San's every move is completely devoid of any bureaucratic or literary pretentiousness, and yet he doesn't have even a hint of arrogance. He's truly a gentleman who makes you feel drawn to him without realizing it!"

  Xie Wan sat on the kang and watched him talk for half a day, unable to help but say: "He's only been an official for so long? Even if he wants to get worldly, there's a process."

  She didn't want to pour cold water on him, although she also knew that Xie Rong's appearance twenty years later hadn't changed much from now. However, seeing him look like he couldn't wait to surrender and become Xie Rong's follower, it was impossible not to let him come back to his senses.

  "Wanwan, why are you talking so sourly?" Xie Liang frowned and retorted.

  It was supposed to make him distinguish between friend and foe, but instead it made her sour.

  She gave him a white eye, got down from the kang, patted her buttocks and walked out: "Then you can get close to your gentleman!"

  The most dangerous thing in the world is not a tiger, but a snake hiding silently under your feet. People are the same, it's not those who scold and punish you that are the hardest to deal with, but those who smile at you and make you unable to guess what they're thinking, that's what makes people feel most at a loss.

  Those sycophant ministers, which one is not a hypocrite?

  Xie Rong lay on the bed, stroking a half-embroidered mandarin duck pillow.

  Huang's family held a bowl of soup and walked to the bedside, sat down, softly said: "Drink it. Just now in the madam's room, I saw you didn't eat much rice."

  Xie Rong smiled and took the soup, drinking it in one gulp. Huang Shi pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped his lips. Then she lay down beside him, her fingers tracing his chest. Xie Rong held her hand and asked, "Where are Yun Ge and the others?"

  Huang's face turned slightly red as she said, "Yi is taking a nap in her room, and Yun has probably gone to talk with Lang."

  Xie Rong flipped over and lay on his back, saying: "Really? I think Lang Ge's brother and sister are quite decent, and it's good for Yun Ge to get along with them. That's right, these days, Mother hasn't been too hard on them, has she?"

  Huang said absent-mindedly: "It's not over yet. I see that Master has been busy helping the old master to urge the account, and even if Madam wants to move to the second house, it will have to wait until next spring."

  Xie Rong nodded and gazed at the top of the tent, "You advise the madam, don't let them lose everything because of a small matter."

  "Got it."

  Huang smiled, leaning on his arm and placing her hand on his waist. She was only twenty-eight or nine years old, well-maintained, and in the prime of her life. Xie Rong also felt a little moved, turned over and kissed her, just about to undress, suddenly thought of asking: "When is your little holiday coming?"

  Huang's family was settled, and the days were said. Xie Rong thought for a moment, turned over and came down, carefully covering her with the quilt. "Let's talk about it next time. The hot mourning period for my brother is not over yet, and my official position is still pending, in case you get pregnant at this time, I'm afraid it will cause trouble."

  Huang's wife sat up straight and said: "Is it that easy? Brother Yun is already eight years old, and in the past few years, we haven't...".

  Xie Rong gently stroked her cheek and said softly, "A steady ship sails for ten thousand years. There's no one else by my side, are you still worried that we won't have a chance to be intimate in the future? What's most important between husband and wife is mutual support. We already have children, now all that's left is for me to establish myself in court and for you to become an imperial noblewoman. When that time comes, these things will naturally fall into place."

  Huang hesitated, wanting to say more, and helped her into bed. "You got up early today, you must be tired. Get a good rest, and later I'll accompany you to the back garden to pick plum blossoms for a vase."

  He stood up, put on his clothes, smiled at Huang Shi and went out the door.